Tower Hamlets is one of London’s most
unaffordable boroughs and Mayor John Biggs is committed to
delivering actual affordable housing.
Mayor Biggs has established a Cabinet
Commission to investigate the delivery of actual affordable housing
in Tower Hamlets. The Commission will meet three times in December
2015, January 2016 and February 2016.
Acceptable rent levels affordable to people in
LB Tower Hamlets identified by the
Commission will to be applied to future housing development schemes
currently in the pipeline and recommended for future approval
including:
·
Schemes built by the Council using its Right to Buy receipts
·
Schemes built by Registered Providers using Council Right to
Buy receipts proved as grant
·
Open market ex Council properties acquired by either the Council or
Registered Providers using Council Right to Buy receipts
The Commission will also consider current
models for low cost Home Ownership.
The Commission will consider the impact of the
proposals set out in the 2015 Housing and Planning Bill on
affordability in the borough, particularly the Starter Homes
initiatives and Pay to Stay for high income social tenants and the
Chancellor’s autumn budget statement
Background papers for each meeting will be
sent out a week before the date of the meeting and published on a
dedicated page on the Council’s website.
The expert Panel appointed by the Mayor are as
follows:
Name
|
Role
|
Organisation
|
Cllr Rachel Blake
|
|
LB Tower Hamlets
|
Mayor John Biggs
|
|
LB Tower Hamlets
|
Cllr Siraj Islam
|
|
LB Tower Hamlets
|
Yvonne Arrowsmith
|
Chief Executive
|
East Thames
|
Duncan Bowie
|
Senior Lecturer
|
University of
Westminster
|
Sarah Sackman
|
Barrister
|
Francis Taylor
Building
|
Dan Hopewell
|
Director of
Strategy
|
Bromley By Bow
Centre
|
Faraz Baber
|
Planning and
Development Policy
|
London First
|
Alastair Baird
|
Regional Managing
Director
|
Barratt Homes
London
|
The Commission’s findings will be
written up in a report for the Mayor in Cabinet scheduled for March
2016.
The final report will be produced by the
Strategy, Sustainability and Regeneration in the Development and
Renewal Directorate
The expert panel will be asked to comment on
an initial and final draft of the report prior to it being signed
off by the Chair of the Commission.
All findings will be attributed to the panel
as a whole. Specific comments will not be recorded as such or
attributed to an individual panel Member.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
TO THE HOUSING AFFORDIBILITY COMMISSION
The Housing Policy and
Affordability Commission is inviting Members of the Public, and
those from Housing organisations to submit written evidence for
consideration. Please ensure evidence is in line with the terms of
reference for the Commission, as listed above.
The deadline for
written evidence is Monday 25th January 2015 at 4.00p.m. To make a
submission please email Martin.Ling@TowerHamlets.Gov.UK
and Tom.Scholes-Fogg@TowerHamlets.Gov.UK.